here's a good reason to wash out your pet food cans:

[ginnyinWI]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8517727.stm

A cat got stuck in one trying to get at the last bits. When I use the tall cans, I put them in the sink and let them soak before I put them in the recycle bin--to keep the bin from getting slimy. But this is another good reason!

[Juneboarder]

1. Oh! How sad...

[badgerpup]

2. Just good sense, really...

Sometimes you can't take the cans in for a while and they pile up.
If you wash them out THOROUGHLY, there's no residue to attract ants, flies and other icky stinky agents whose job it is to clean up decomposing stuff.

Or curious critters who think it smells interesting.